JOHOR BAHRU: UMNO president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will have an audience with the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, on the appointment of the Johor Menteri Besar this afternoon.

This was confirmed by Johor BN chairman and caretaker Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad.

"This is the normal process. After the Election Commission has announced the election results, the (UMNO) president will have an audience (with the Sultan)," he told reporters briefly when met at the Johor UMNO headquarters here today.

In the Johor state election on Saturday (March 12), BN regained power with more than a two-thirds majority, capturing 40 of the 56 seats contested.

Earlier, Ahmad Zahid was seen arriving at the UMNO headquarters in Jalan Yahya Awal at 2.30 pm and spent about 20 minutes there.

During the campaigning, Ahmad Zahid named Hasni, who contested and won in Benut, as BN's Menteri Besar candidate if the coalition won the election.


Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid and UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan were seen returning to the Johor UMNO headquarters at about 4 pm.

The UMNO president and his deputy then went up to the third floor of the building, where they are understood to have met Hasni again.

Thirty minutes later, Ahmad Zahid, Mohamad and Hasni were seen leaving the Johor UMNO headquarters for an undisclosed destination.

Also seen was Johor UMNO liaison body executive secretary Pandak Ahmad.

Media personnel could not get any comments or reactions from the UMNO leaders.

-- BERNAMA